Makassar, Indonesia July 08 2026/PMN-RG/ – Imagine hearing a doctor tell you that your child has cancer.
In that moment, life changes forever. Fear, confusion, and uncertainty quickly take over. Parents suddenly find themselves facing difficult decisions about treatments, hospitals, insurance coverage, and long-term care. Yet amid all these challenges, one factor can significantly influence the quality of decisions they make: health literacy.
Health literacy refers to a person’s ability to access, understand, evaluate, and use health information to make informed decisions. For parents caring for children with cancer, health literacy is not simply an advantage—it can be a lifeline.
A recent study conducted in Indonesia explored the health literacy levels of parents whose children were diagnosed with cancer and examined the factors influencing their choice of healthcare services. The findings revealed both encouraging opportunities and important challenges. While 55% of parents demonstrated good health literacy, nearly 45% still had limited health literacy, indicating that many families may struggle to fully understand complex medical information and treatment options.
The study also identified the main considerations parents use when selecting healthcare services for their children. Hospital reputation emerged as the most important factor, followed by insurance procedures, distance to healthcare facilities, and the quality of healthcare professionals. These findings suggest that parents are not only seeking medical treatment but also looking for trust, accessibility, and confidence in the healthcare system.
Why does this matter?
Childhood cancer treatment is often lengthy, emotionally demanding, and financially challenging. Parents are expected to make critical decisions throughout the treatment journey. When they have adequate health literacy, they are better equipped to understand medical explanations, communicate effectively with healthcare providers, evaluate treatment options, and actively participate in their child’s care.
This issue directly supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-Being, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. Improving health literacy can contribute to earlier treatment initiation, better treatment adherence, enhanced patient safety, and improved health outcomes for children with cancer.
The findings are also strongly connected to SDG 4: Quality Education. Health literacy is, in essence, a form of lifelong learning. When parents receive clear and accessible health information, they become empowered decision-makers. Education does not only occur in schools and universities; it also takes place in hospitals, clinics, and community health settings where families learn how to navigate complex healthcare systems.
Healthcare providers play a crucial role in this process. By using simple language, providing understandable educational materials, and creating supportive communication environments, they can help families make informed choices during one of the most difficult periods of their lives.
Ultimately, cancer treatment is not solely about medicine, technology, or hospital facilities. It is also about empowering parents with knowledge. When families understand the information they receive, they gain confidence. When they gain confidence, they make better decisions. And when better decisions are made, children have a stronger chance of receiving the care they need.
Sometimes, hope begins with knowledge.
Reference:
DOI. https://doi.org/10.52774/jkfn.v8i2.414?
Contact:
Dr. Yuliana Syam, S.Kp., Ns, M.Si.
+6281342012733
yulianasyam@unhas.ac.id
